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UKZN Launches Research Centre to Tackle HIV and TB

Oct 10, 2012

The KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH)) officially opened its doors on 9 October.

Speaking at the event the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, commended UKZN and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for embarking on a partnership that would address tuberculosis (TB) and HIV at the epicentre of the diseases.  

K-RITH's mission is to conduct outstanding basic research on TB and HIV, translate the scientific findings into new tools to control TB and HIV, and expand the science education opportunities in the region as well as the TB and HIV research capabilities of scientists throughout Africa.


Director of Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH ) Professor William Bishai speaks during the
multi million rand launch of K-RITH at UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in Durban.

President of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor Robert Tjian; UKZN Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba; KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize; Director of the Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH ) Professor William Bishai; Kurt Schmoke Vice President of Howard University; Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and KZN MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo react during the multi million rand launch of K-RITH at UKZN.

Kurt Schmoke Vice President of Howard University, UKZN Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize attend the launch.

Guests attend the multi million rand launch of the K-RITH at UKZN's Nelson Mandela R School of Medicine in Durban yesterday.

Director of K-RITH Professor William Bishai, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, President of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor Robert Tjian, Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba and KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize attend the multi-million rand launch of K-RITH at UKZN's Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in Durban yesterday.

Director of K-RITH Professor William Bishai, Health Minister
 Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, President of the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor Robert Tjian, Vice-
Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba and KZN Premier
 Dr Zweli Mkhize attend the multi-million rand launch of
K-RITH at UKZN's Nelson R Mandela School of
Medicine in Durban yesterday.


UKZN Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba
speaks during the multi million rand launch of K-RITH
at the UKZN Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in
 Durban.

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Did you Know?

UKZN’s School of Information Systems and Technology was the first university in South Africa to introduce Podcasting as an educational tool.

UKZN was founded in 1910 – it is now 100 years old!

Spud author, John Van De Ruit, graduated from UKZN.

In 2010 there was a total of 41 626 students at UKZN, of this 32 791 were undergraduate & 8 835 were postgraduate.

UKZN has won the Daily News ‘Your choice award’ for the best University/College for the past seven years running.

Globally UKZN is one of only three South African universities in the top 500 Universities in the world.

UKZN is the third most productive University in terms of its research production.

The University employs over 5000 staff members.

UKZN has been home to many successful sportsman over the years, Tommy Bedford a former Springbok Rugby player, Shaun Pollock & Jonty Rhodes South African Cricketers.

Some high profile businessmen studied at UKZN, Sol Kerzner the developer of Lost city & more, Stephen Saad the CEO & founder of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings, Guy Brazier the regional leader of Deloitte & Alan Olivier the CEO of Grindrod Group.

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